Exploring Bioinformatics Solutions for Improved Leishmaniasis Diagnostic Tools: A Review.

Significant populations in tropical and sub-tropical locations all over the world are severely impacted by a group of neglected tropical diseases called leishmaniases. This disease is caused by roughly 20 species of the protozoan parasite from the genus. Disease prevention strategies that include early detection, vector control, treatment of affected individuals, and vaccination are all essential.

Tobacco exposure, but not aging, shifts the frequency of peripheral blood B cell subpopulations.

Several disturbances in T-cell mediated immunity have been described during aging, but immunosenescence of the B-cell compartment is less well elucidated. The peripheral blood B-cell compartment (CD19+) can be split into six main subpopulations according to the cell surface markers IgD, CD27, CD24, and CD38: Transitional, naïve, unswitched, switched, double negative and plasmablasts. We thus aimed to verify whether shifts in these subsets occur during healthy and pathological aging.

Age-associated phenotypic imbalance in TCD4 and TCD8 cell subsets: comparison between healthy aged, smokers, COPD patients and young adults.

Background: COPD is associated with an abnormal lung immune response that leads to tissue damage and remodeling of the lung, but also to systemic effects that compromise immune responses. Cigarette smoking also impacts on innate and adaptative immune responses, exerting dual, pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Previously, we showed that COPD patients presented accelerated telomere shortening and decreased telomerase activity, while, paradoxically, cigarette-smokers exhibited preserved telomerase activity and slower rate of telomere shortening.

Desaturation-Distance Ratio During Submaximal and Maximal Exercise Tests and Its Association With Lung Function Parameters in Patients With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

The desaturation-distance ratio (DDR), the ratio of the desaturation area to the distance walked, is a promising, reliable, and simple physiologic tool for functional evaluation in subjects with interstitial lung diseases. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare neoplastic condition frequently associated with exercise impairment. However, DDR has rarely been evaluated in patients with LAM.

The Mini-Balance Evaluation System Test Can Predict Falls in Clinically Stable Outpatients With COPD: A 12-MO PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY.

Purpose: This study evaluated the accuracy of the Mini-Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest) for predicting falls in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and investigated whether postural balance is a risk factor for falls.

Methods: Postural balance was evaluated by the Mini-BESTest at baseline, and the incidence of falls over a 12-mo period was prospectively measured by a self-reported falls diary and confirmed by telephone calls. A discriminative power analysis was performed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression analysis.

Remote diagnosis of traumatic dental injuries using digital photographs captured via a mobile phone.

Background: Intra-oral photographs have been aided diagnosis of several pathologies in teledentistry. Mobile phone cameras may produce high-quality photographs, presenting itself as a viable tool for remote diagnosis of traumatic dental injuries.

Aim: To evaluate the levels of interexaminer agreement in cases of traumatic dental injuries when comparing diagnoses conducted in person and remotely.

Comparison of lung expansion techniques on thoracoabdominal mechanics and incidence of pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery: a randomized and controlled trial.

Objective: Lung expansion techniques (LETs) are widely used to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). However, the effects of each of these techniques on thoracoabdominal mechanics and PPC incidence after abdominal surgery remain unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of LET on pulmonary volumes, respiratory muscle activation, and PPC incidence after major, elective upper abdominal surgery.

Anxiety and depression are related to dyspnea and clinical control but not with thoracoabdominal mechanics in patients with COPD.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the presence of symptoms of anxiety or depression with breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal mechanics at rest and during exercise in COPD.

Methods: Cross-sectional study enrolled 54 patients with COPD ranked according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) score and compared to dyspnea, clinical control, hypercapnia, breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal mechanics at rest and during exercise.

Results: Seventeen patients with COPD had no symptoms, 12 had anxiety symptoms, 13 had depressive symptoms and 12 had both symptoms.

Clinical evaluation of the Spiral Pump® after improvements to the original project in patients submitted to cardiac surgeries with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to present the results from Spiral Pump clinical trial after design modifications performed at its previous project. This pump applies axial end centrifugal hydraulic effects for blood pumping during cardiopulmonary bypass for patients under cardiac surgery.

Methods: This study was performed in 52 patients (51% males), between 20 to 80 (67±14.

In vivo evaluation of centrifugal blood pump for cardiopulmonary bypass-Spiral Pump.

The Spiral Pump (SP), a centrifugal blood pump for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), has been developed at the Dante Pazzanese Institute of Cardiology/Adib Jatene Foundation laboratories, with support from Sintegra Company (Pompeia, Brazil). The SP is a disposable pump with an internal rotor-a conically shaped fuse with double entrance threads. This rotor is supported by two ball bearings, attached to a stainless steel shaft fixed to the housing base.

In vitro assessment of the Apico Aortic Blood Pump: anatomical positioning, hydrodynamic performance, hemolysis studies, and analysis in a hybrid cardiovascular simulator.

The Apico Aortic Blood Pump (AABP) is a centrifugal continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) with ceramic bearings. The device is in the initial development phase and is being designed to be attached directly to the left ventricular apex by introducing an inlet cannula. This paper reports results from in vitro experiments.

Study of a centrifugal blood pump in a mock loop system.

An implantable centrifugal blood pump (ICBP) is being developed to be used as a ventricular assist device (VAD) in patients with severe cardiovascular diseases. The ICBP system is composed of a centrifugal pump, a motor, a controller, and a power supply. The electricity source provides power to the controller and to a motor that moves the pump's rotor through magnetic coupling.

Centrifugal blood pump for temporary ventricular assist devices with low priming and ceramic bearings.

A new model of centrifugal blood pump for temporary ventricular assist devices has been developed and evaluated. The design of the device is based on centrifugal pumping principles and the usage of ceramic bearings, resulting in a pump with reduced priming (35 ± 2 mL) that can be applied for up to 30 days. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis is an efficient tool to optimize flow path geometry, maximize hydraulic performance, and minimize shear stress, consequently decreasing hemolysis.

Volume rather than flow incentive spirometry is effective in improving chest wall expansion and abdominal displacement using optoelectronic plethysmography.

Background: Incentive spirometers are widely used in clinical practice and classified as flow-oriented (FIS) and volume-oriented (VIS). Until recently the respiratory inductive plethysmography used to evaluate the effects of incentive spirometry on chest wall mechanics presented limitations, which may explain why the impact of VIS and FIS remains poorly known.

Objective: To compare the effects of VIS and FIS on thoracoabdominal mechanics and respiratory muscle activity in healthy volunteers.

Evaluation of a multimedia online tool for teaching bronchial hygiene to physical therapy students.

Background: Advances in information technology have been widely used in teaching health care professionals. The use of multimedia resources may be important for clinical learning and we are not aware of previous reports using such technology in respiratory physical therapy education.

Objectives: Our approach was to evaluate a conventional bronchial hygiene techniques (BHTs) course with an interactive online environment, including multimedia resources.

Objective structured clinical evaluation as an assessment method for undergraduate chest physical therapy students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) has been considered a reliable method for the evaluation of students' clinical skills in health sciences, but it has been rarely applied in the teaching of physical therapy.

Objective: To assess the use of the OSCE as a tool to evaluate the abilities of undergraduate chest physical therapy students and to verify the internal consistency of the OSCE exam.

Methods: Forty-seven students were evaluated using two types of exams: the traditional exam and the OSCE.

A new model of centrifugal blood pump for cardiopulmonary bypass: design improvement, performance, and hemolysis tests.

A new model of blood pump for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) application has been developed and evaluated in our laboratories. Inside the pump housing is a spiral impeller that is conically shaped and has threads on its surface. Worm gears provide an axial motion of the blood column.

Implantable centrifugal blood pump with dual impeller and double pivot bearing system: electromechanical actuator, prototyping, and anatomical studies.

An implantable centrifugal blood pump has been developed with original features for a left ventricular assist device. This pump is part of a multicenter and international study with the objective to offer simple, affordable, and reliable devices to developing countries. Previous computational fluid dynamics investigations and wear evaluation in bearing system were performed followed by prototyping and in vitro tests.

Common mental disorders and chronic non-communicable diseases in adults: a population-based study.

A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted to identify the prevalence of common mental disorders and verify the association with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the self-reported number of chronic diseases. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was applied in a multi-stage random sample of 1,276 adults aged 40 and older. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and health-related variables were also obtained using a structured questionnaire.

Evaluation of waist circumference to predict general obesity and arterial hypertension in women in Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

This study examined the capacity of waist circumference (WC) to identify subjects with overweight (BMI >/=25) and obesity (BMI >/=30), in agreement with internationally recommended levels of action. Data were obtained from 791 women, 15-59 years old. After identifying overweight and obesity according to WC values, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to verify whether WC could be a good risk predictor for hypertension.